Tag Archives: rock

01.13.22
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Kick and the Hug’s Video for their Single “Born Too Late” is an Embrace of Live Music Experience of the Past and Present

The up and coming four-piece indie pop band, Kick and the Hug, grew up with a live music experience that, simply put, is slowly going out of style. The era of taking in the music by feeling it is now gone. While the music listeners and concert goers of today still take in the music, though in a new and different way, what they have that Kick and the Hug didn’t is the internet. Smartphones and social media have changed the landscape of concerts and live music, therefore changing the way music is experienced. The generation of Woodstock attendees and Dead Heads are replaced with the new generation of P!nk and Arianna Grande concerts, which is usually posted about the next day. Kick and the Hug’s most recent single, “Born Too Late” is a pop rock song about seeing a concert through the phone.

The video for “Born Too Late” takes the idea of being born into a generation of music that enjoys a concert through posting about being there on Instagram and turns it on it’s head. The normal thing to do now is to post a photo and/or video of the concert you went to. Members of the Kick and the Hug, who would enjoy music like the Dead Heads, were now experiencing music through their phones. They had changed with the time and realized that they were no longer experiencing music the same way either. Their use of baby dolls in the video is a visualization of the older members of the band both embracing social media and a reminder that they don’t need their phones to have an experience.

“It’s a song about watching shows through your phone…being a camera person instead of just being fully immersed in the show,” shares Doug Murray, lead singer and guitar player of Kick and the Hug. “It’s nice to show everyone on social media that you’re having a great time at this awesome show…but you know what’s better? Actually having the great time, not thinking about a post, or tomorrow or even five minutes into the future. It’s a little preachy, cause I catch myself posting clips all the time, but after releasing this song it’s a pretty good reminder to just get the damn shot, stick the phone in my pocket and connect with what’s going on around me.“

Watch the video:

You can find Kick and the Hug via:
Website // Instagram // Facebook // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud 

12.17.21
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Stardust Crush’s Video for their Latest Single is Thick with Symbolism

Seattle based music project, Stardust Crush, lead by Chris Hill, just released their music video for their groovy song “The Gravity of the Goddess (No One Else Can Dance Like You).” The psychedelic rock and chill-pop song sounds like that of The Grateful Dead meets Pink Floyd. Inspired by a friend of his who was going through a hard and dark time, Chris initially wrote this song for him. He hoped that this song would help his friend out of the dark, and eventually “The Gravity of the Goddess” was born.

“The piano part made me think about a specific friend going through a hard time and I realized the song was writing itself to be encouraging to them…I was just along for the ride,” shares Chris. “I want people to know that they have more strength inside themselves than they realize.”

Watch here:

“‘The Gravity of the Goddess’ video reveals how things seemingly juxtaposed are actually connected at a deeper level,” shares Chris. “Such as walking through the woods day and night or a film of boxing juxtaposed against lyrics about dancing. A small spinning Earth travels through an evergreen forest located upon its own spherical body… It is still at home even as it travels and so are you. You will encounter obstacles along your own yellow brick road through space but you can overcome them by knowing your self-worth…This knowledge is the key to the Emerald City.”

Chris Hill tells us to embrace the dark, because there is always light at the end. He hopes to bring out the inner strength within us all. The vigor of the music, the build up of sounds in the chorus, is the symbol of your inner warrior, who is fighting the battle of self-acceptance and self-love within ourselves. The joy and fearlessness in the music is a sign that that inner warrior is winning

You can find Chris Hill via:

Website // Instagram // Facebook // Twitter // YouTube // Spotify // Soundcloud

01.21.11
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Esben and the Witch to Release Debut Album

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“Not to say they’re in any way a throwback, but the intense fury these three modest humans work up reminds me of ’80s/’90s bands who were desperate to match savvy rock songwriting with scary, theatrical emotion and intensity without turning it into noise punk or cabaret shtick. They walk a line, evoking folklore and fairy tales and witchery, swelling to a climax that’s hypnotic but never quite reveals itself.” — SPIN

Dark noise pop Esben and the Witch are set to release their debut album, Violet Cries. Their intense sound has been raved about ever since they released their 3 EP. You can check out their “Warpath” mp3 here, and their new music video for “Marching Song” below.

12.16.10
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U.S. Royalty to release “Mirrors”

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Washington DC-based band US Royalty are finally ready to release their debut record after spending a year recording and writing the music as a band. The folk pop band has been compared to the likes of Local Natives and the Black Keys, but in reality, their inspiration is drawn from Kubrick and Ennio Morricone soundtracks.

The result is an electrifying single called “Equestrian”, which can be listened to here.

Make sure to pick up the promising “Mirrors” on January 25th, 2011.

12.02.10
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Active Child Release Music Video, Tour with White Lies

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Los Angeles-based artist Active Child released their new music video via Pitchfork for their new single “I’m In Your Church at Night”. The clip, directed by Petro Papahadjopoulos, has the craziest aesthetic ever: think pastry chefs cooking in the middle of a snowstorm. Regardless, its unearthly sound and electronic sound gives Active Child a new edge. They will also be touring England with White Lies next year. Check out the tour dates below, as well as the mind-boggling video here!

February:
04 – Cambridge, England – The Junction *
06 – Norfolk, England – UEA LCR Union House *
07 – Brighton, England – Com Exchange *
09 – Bristol, England – O2 Academy Bristol *
10 – London, England – O2 Shepherds Bush Empire *
13 – Leeds, England – O2 Academy Leeds *
14 – Birmingham, England – HMV Institute *
16 – Glasgow, Scotland – Barrowland *
17 – Newcastle, England – O2 Academy Newcastle *
18 – Manchester, England – Academy (Manchester University SU) *

* = w/ White Lies

11.16.10
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Vanity Theft Announce New Album And Tour

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After several months of heavy touring in support of their latest EP, Anatomy, Ohio’s Vanity Theft are pleased to announce a release date for their next LP, Get What You Came For. The LP will be released digitally on February 1, with physical copies available in stores on March 1 via Vigilante Music/Adamant Records.

Get What You Came For finds the group enjoying a new line-up (former Disney Channel star Lalaine joined the group earlier in the year,) and creating what Vanity Theft does best: music that is catchy, edgy, and dancey as hell, in the tradition of The Runaways and Sleater-Kinney.

Vanity Theft is also bracing for a nationwide tour next year, traveling alongside Hunter Valentine. Full tracklist and tour dates below:

Get What You Came For

1. Trainwreck

2. Limb from Limb

3. My Cup Runneth Over

4. Rattle Rattle

5. Bit By Bit

6. Textbook Answer

7. Anatomy

8. End Scene

9. Dead Battery

10. Missing Teeth

2011 Tour (All dates with Hunter Valentine)

February 2 – New York, NY – The Knitting Factory
February 4 – Washington, DC – U Street Music Hall
February 5 – Charlotte, NC – The Milestone
February 7 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory
February 9 – Webster, TX – Club Eden
February 10 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
February 11 – San Antonio, TX – Korova
February 12 – Dallas, TX – Sue Ellen’s
February 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Conservatory
February 17 – Scottsdale, AZ – The Rogue Bar
February 18 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
February 20 – San Francisco, CA – Milk Bar
February 24 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven
February 25 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
February 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – Burts Tiki
March 1 – Kansas City, MO – The Riot Room
Mar 2 – St. Louis, MO – Ciceros